Akash, the indigenously developed surface-to-air nuclear capable missile, was on Friday successfully test-fired for the second time in two days from the integrated test range at Chandipur-on-sea, 15 km from Balasore.

The multi-target medium range missile with a strike range of 25 km and capable of carrying a warhead of 50 kg was test-fired from a mobile launcher as part of an air defence exercise, defence sources said.

The 5.6-m-long missile, weighing about 700 kg, was blasted off at 1410 IST from the ITR. It targeted a flying "para barrel" released from a fighter aircraft.

Some IAF officials were present during the trial.

The missile uses an integral 'ramjet' rocket propulsion system and has a low reaction time, the sources said.

Coming close on the heels of successful trials of interceptor missiles, the test-fire was done to fine-tune the sophisticated 'Akash' which has undergone several tests earlier as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, the sources said.

A series of test firings of the missile would be carried out for the next ten days to pave the way for its induction into the Indian Air Force.

Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory, the nodal agency which has designed the missile, has already approved 'flight consistency' of the missile, they said.